Kobayashi to start from seventh place after provisional grid is announced

The Sauber driver, who did not set a time in Q3, had originally qualified in 10th, but with the three drivers in front of him having failed to set a time too, the Japanese will actually start from seventh.

Formula 1 rules state that if a driver fails to set a time, the grid will be determined in the following order:

1. Any driver who attempted to set a qualifying time by starting a flying lap;

2. Any driver who failed to start a flying lap;

3. Any driver who failed to leave the pits during the period.

Even though he did not set a time, Kobayashi had started a flying lap, unlike the three drivers in front of him.

Mercedes's Michael Schumacher will start from eighth ahead of the Renaults of Bruno Senna and Vitaly Petrov.

Mercedes boss Ross Brawn said the team attempted to get Schumacher to start a flying lap, but the German ran out of time because of traffic in front of him.

"Once we saw some of the times in Q3, we thought it was doubtful that we would be able to beat those times. So we wanted to remain at the front of that group and once it became clear that the other cars were not going to attempt a time, then we had to start the lap.

"Unfortunately, we sent Michael out and a lot of cars in front then started stacking up. Michael knew that he had to start the lap so was trying to get through so he could. It's under discussion with the FIA what's going to happen. That's why we were pushing to try and start the lap."